Monday, November 16, 2015

Delta Dreamflight - A Walt Disney World Classic Remembered

By Keith Mahne




Delta Dreamflight was an attraction located in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom inside Walt Disney World, and was sponsored by Delta Air Lines. While usually a line-free experience, Dreamflight remains a classic Disney attraction that was dedicated to the magic of air travel. Dreamflight also replaced an attraction called If You Had Wings, another WDW classic that was sponsored by Eastern Air Lines. Now, let's revisit this old Tomorrowland treasure by covering its history, listening to its fantastic theme song, and even taking a ride through as we remember Delta Dreamflight in today's new article...








Delta Dreamflight opened on June 23, 1989 and offered families the ability to embarked on a journey through the history of aviation: from crop dusting and parachuting, to gliding aboard modern jetliners.








Dreamflight used the same basic Omnimover ride system that other Disney rides utilize today. The attraction was a pop-up book version of the history of flight using simplistic sets, some Audio-Animatronics and projection effects.








Riders passed through scenes of barnstormers, an M-130, Tokyo and Paris in the 1930s, the jet age, and the future of air travel, and appeared to even enter a working jet engine.








Popular scenes in the attraction were ones like this one from the propeller plane era of the ride, where commercial flights started taking passengers all over the globe. On the left, guests passed the inside of a posh, elegant airliner's fuselage that was the dining area of a first-class trip...







Or how about the one where a gentleman in a suit stood on the guest's left in a Japanese garden where he was being greeted by the Japanese locals...







Or even the one where below the guests were the rooftops and the skyline of Paris, France. Guests "flew" past the rooftops of a Paris street and could see quaint little shops and tourists sitting below on the patio of a French cafe...








Delta sponsored the ride from its opening in 1989 through the end of 1995. Delta's decision not to continue sponsorship was made in part due to its costs of sponsoring the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.








From January 1, 1996 to June 4, 1996 the attraction was renamed simply "Dreamflight" while its future was being determined. On June 5, 1996 it reopened as Take Flight. It was only a slight refurbishment; all references to Delta were removed and the attraction's popular theme songs were rerecorded. Speaking of theme songs, Delta Dreamflight's original one was absolutely fantastic and I have it for you to hear below. Take a listen to this catchy, little beauty...

(Please pause the Disney Avenue Music Player in the top left-hand corner prior to playing the video below if you are on a desktop computer.)







By the way, that great Disney theme song you just heard is now available in the Disney Avenue Music Player. Simply scroll through the playlist located at the top of the site to track number 173. Back to the story...







Delta Dreamflight's replacement, Take Flight eventually closed its doors for good in January 1998, ending the dynasty of flight-based attractions to occupy the space. It was replaced by the interactive dark ride Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Although classic dark rides of Tomorrowland like If You Had Wings, Delta Dreamflight and Take Flight now live only in our hearts and minds, it's still so much fun to relive those past trips. And so, here is a video originally uploaded to MouseBits.com of Delta Dreamflight's complete ride through. Enjoy friends...

(Please pause the Disney Avenue Music Player prior to playing the video below if you are on a desktop computer.)









*****






Keith Michael Mahne is the owner and editor of Disney Avenue and the host of the Disney Avenue Podcast. He has made countless trips to the Walt Disney World resort since his first trip in 1989 at the age of four. Keith has a strong passion and respect for Walt Disney, the parks and resorts, and the men and women who help create them. He started Disney Avenue as a way to inform and entertain readers and to repay all those who make dreams come true every day.



2 comments:

  1. please explain how i can listen to the Disney Avenue media player? do i have to down load the SCM music player first?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will pop up at the top of the site but you have to be on a desktop computer. It won't work from a mobile device or tablet. Hope that helps.

      Delete